The Church: Ekklesia

Posted on April 16, 2007 by Jason

The Greek word ekklesia is translated “church” in our English Bibles. The word has no overt spiritual meaning. It generally means “assembly” or “meeting”. In Acts 19, Luke uses ekklesia in this general sense to refer to the assembly of Ephesians (19:32, 39, 41). Why then did the NT writers use this term to describe the Lord’s church?

Based on the etymology of the Greek verb kaleo (“to call”), general scholarship understand the NT usage of ekklesia as something akin to “the called out ones”. In the OT, Israel enjoyed favored status as God’s “chosen people”. But the NT bears witness to God’s redemptive activity whereby people of faith from all tribes and nations are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…” (1 Peter 2:9).

The presence of God infuses the ekklesia with significance and meaning. As a gathering of individuals, the church is much like the word ekklesia, with no overt spiritual connotation. But as a corporate, communal reality, the church images God as a diversity in unity. It is the presence of a relational God moving among His covenant people that imbues ekklesia with purpose. Perhaps “the called out ones” too narrowly defines God’s chosen people. Maybe we should equally emphasize that which we have been called into: an experience of the eternal, communal God through the local ekklesia.

God intends to call out a people for himself. He has always desired community. He wants His people to enjoy relationship with Him. But God also intends for His people to share in relationship with one another. The ekklesia bears witness to God’s intention to His people share life together. May we continue to praise our Triune God, for calling us out of darkness and calling us into sweet communion with Him and with all the saints.

Posted in Church, Theology | Leave a comment

Fred Craddock

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Jason

I’m excited because today I’ll have the chance to hear Fred Craddock speak at Lipscomb. Craddock is something of a legend in the preaching world. He brought narrative preaching back to the forefront in evangelical preaching a couple of decades ago. His text Preaching is something of a textbook on the art of exegesis and style. He’ll be speaking at Lipscomb this afternoon. I’ve been looking forward to this for a couple weeks. This guy’s been someting of a hero to me over the years. Can’t wait to hear him talk about his craft.

Posted in Preaching | 1 Comment

Reasons I Haven’t Blogged Lately

Posted on April 11, 2007 by Jason

It’s been quite a while since I made a post. Here are some of the reasons why:

  • Term paper on Romans 13 due tomorrow (finished last Saturday)
  • Term paper on ecclesiology due April 15 (still in progress)
  • Wife has been ordered to stay off her feet (see previous post); as a result, Daddy has had to pick up major slack around house & with kids
  • No Internet at home; cannot justify wasting time at work on silly blog
  • What spare time I have is spent managing myriad fantasy baseball teams
  • Honestly, I’m at the point where I don’t have much to say right now

Sorry for the major drought in posts. I’ll be back in the saddle soon, I promise, with posts about my kids, Jackie Robinson and why Wal-Mart is quickly becoming the bane of my existence.

To hold you over, here are some pics of us outdoors at the new house before the Parousia of Winter occured.

Posted in Blogging, Kids, Sunny | 4 Comments

An Update on Sunny

Posted on April 4, 2007 by Jason


Several of you have asked about Sunny. She’s doing pretty well so far (I mean, just look at her!). Last Friday, we hit the 28-week mark, so we have a long way to go (hopefully!). She’s been doing a good job of staying off her feet as much as possible. The kids come to work with me on Mondays and Wednesdays now…we were able to get them in at MCDC (our church’s child development center) two days a week. Of course, they’re still at their “other” school on Tuesdays. So that gives Sunny a reprieve at least during the morning hours on those days. I’m able to help out some, too. I think I’ve run to Wal-Mart about 10 times in the past two weeks! I’m able to get the shopping done, but I’m SO much slower than Sunny is. I don’t know how she does it so quickly. In fact, I don’t know how she does a lot of things. I’m learning that I can do a lot of the jobs she does as a Mommy, but I don’t do them nearly as efficiently (or joyfully!) as she does. (I’m having flashbacks to my Mommy MIA posts.) But thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. We’ll continue to keep you posted!

Posted in Kids, Prayer, Sunny | 2 Comments

One Shining Moment…

Posted on April 3, 2007 by Jason

Congratulations to Matt Wimberley, winner of the Bybee Bracket Yahoo NCAA Basketball Pick ‘Em Tournament. Yours truly finished in 6th place. I could’ve finished as high as 2nd (I think) if Ohio State had won last night. I hear it wasn’t a close game. (I fell asleep at 8:30 on the couch, officially making me an old man.) Also, kudos to Sunny for not finishing in the bottom 3rd of the league. After Kansas was eliminated she lost interest (she picked the Jayhawks to win it all), but a strong Final Four showing vaulted her ahead of a few other intrepid readers who shall remain nameless.

In other news, I’m in first place in my Cool Papa Bell League after one full day of games. Can my beloved Lobes make it a wire-to-wire championship season? It must be noted that I’ve won my league each year that Sunny has been pregnant. It must also be noted that I’ve finished in 9th place each of the past two seasons since my championship run in ’04. I’m pretty much the Marlins of the CPBL; I’m either contending for a championship or I’m blowing things up by the end of May. Last year I became the first owner in league history to make a trade with every other team in the league. But this year, I’m following a new strategy: no trades until June, at the earliest. I drafted well, so I’m gonna trust my instincts and go with the ones I’ve already selected. It should be fun; I’ll keep you posted.

Posted in Blogging, Sports, Sunny | 6 Comments

Baseball Predictions: 2007

Posted on March 29, 2007 by Jason

Each year before the baseball season, I sit down and make my picks for each division winner. I’ve given it a little thought this year, and here are my predictions:

AL EAST: New York Yankees. I know I’m really going out on a limb here. But I think the Yanks are poised to win yet another division crown. Their lineup is as fearsome as ever, so scoring runs shouldn’t be a problem. I’m predicting a big season for ARod (giving him the impetus to opt out of his contract at season’s end). As always, the big question will be pitching. Although the Bombers are a little banged up to begin the season, I expect them to be key players in the Roger Clemens sweepstakes. And uber-phenom Phil Hughes stands ready to be called up if need be. With a lights out bullpen and a serviceable rotation, I give the Yanks a slight edge over the BoSox.

AL CENTRAL: Detroit Tigers. This is the toughest division in baseball, in my opinion. The Twins, White Sox and Indians could also contend for the division crown and, believe it or not, the Royals are much improved. That said, none of these teams can boast about their pitching the way the Tigers can. A solid rotation and a bullpen full of live arms make Detroit my pick in this division. Gary Sheffield makes the lineup a bit more dangerous and the rest of the lineup remains intact from last season. I see the Tigers narrowly edging out Cleveland in this tight race.

AL WEST: L.A. Angels. I’m high on the Angels organization (they were my World Series pick a year ago). With a solid mix of young guys and vets, their lineup is solid. Even without Bartolo Colon, I like their pitching a lot. John Lacky, Jered Weaver and Ervin Santana are all young aces. If they get Colon back, that’ll only help even more. They have the young prospects to dangle if they’d ever pull the season on a mid-season acquisition to put them over the top. I like this team a lot better than any other team out West.

AL WILD CARD: Boston Red Sox. Before they made the move to put Jon Papelbon back in the bullpen, I was really worried about their relief pitching. With Paps closing things out though, I think the Sox are a much better club. Even without him, their rotation might be the best in the league. And we can’t count them out of the Clemens derby, either. I reserve the right to elevate them over the Yankees if they snare the Rocket. On offense, health is the key. How many games will they get from Manny and JD Drew? The answer to that question will determine their season. I like a couple of other teams to contend here (Cleveland, Toronto), but ultimately I expect to see the Red Sox back in the playoffs next season.

NL EAST: Philadelphia Phillies. If I played it safe with my AL picks, I’m going against the grain on my NL picks. This division is completely wide open. In my mind, this one is a toss-up between the Braves, Mets and Phils. I’ll take Philly on the strength of their two young studs, Brett Myers and Cole Hamels. These kids can throw with anybody. Add in Freddy Garcia, Adam Eaton, Jon Lieber and Jamie Moyer and you have the makings of a solid rotation. If everyone’s healthy, they’ll look to deal from this surplus to address their bullpen needs. With an offense built around Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, scoring runs will certainly be no problem. Ultimately, this team will go as far as Tom Gordon, Ryan Madson and the rest of the bullpen will carry them.

NL CENTRAL: Milwaukee Brewers. This is another wide open division. Although it pains me to say it, my beloved Cardinals have taken a step back with the free agent defections of most of their rotation. I’m not a believer in the Astros and the Cubbies…well, let’s just say I’m pretty confident they’ll find a way to implode by Memorial Day. That leaves me with Ned Yost’s Brewers as the most promising club in the division. Their rotation is quality (Sheets, Bush, Capuano, Suppan and Vargas), their bullpen is lights out (Cordero was one of the best in the league after coming over to the NL) and their nucleus of young offensive players will be even better than they were last year. Look for big things from Corey Hart, a multi-tool outfielder who Yost loves. This team has a great blend of veteran depth and youthful hunger. The biggest question will be whether or not Ben Sheets can finally stay healthy. If so, it could be a good year for the Beer-makers.

NL WEST: San Diego Padres. Another against the grain pick. Most prognosticators love the Dodgers in the West, and I’ll admit, they’re a solid team. But I love how San Diego continues to construct their ball club. A year ago, they shrewdly dealt Adam Eaton for Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez. This year, they acquired veterans Marcus Giles and Greg Maddux via free agency and a young third baseman who can rake in Kevin Kouzmanoff. They’re not the splashy acquisitions of their division rivals, but top to bottom, I like the moves the Fathers have made.

NL WILD CARD: L.A. Dodgers. I’ll admit, I have no clue on this one. I could just as easily put the D-Backs or Cardinals or Mets or Braves here, but the Dodgers are another one of those teams that have the blend of veterans and prospects that I like. Their pitching is solid, but their offense worries me a little bit. When you’re relying on creaky vets like Jeff Kent, Luis Gonzalez and Nomar to anchor the heart of your order, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. That said, I think they’ll score enough runs to put them in the playoff hunt. I’m hoping that since I didn’t pick them, my Cards could sneak in here. Time will tell.

AL PLAYOFFS: Yankees over Tigers; Angels over Red Sox
ALCS: Yankees over Angels

NL PLAYOFFS: Padres over Phillies; Brewers over Dodgers
NLCS: Padres over Brewers

World Series: Yankees over Padres

Well, there you have it, folks. Tell me how crazy you think I am. We’ll find out in October!

Posted in Baseball | 7 Comments

MyPod: A Spring Playlist

Posted on March 27, 2007 by Jason

I love spring. After about two weeks of winter, I’m ready for warm weather again. Give me flip flops and shorts over sweaters and long johns any day.

Here’s a Spring Playlist of songs I’m spinning lately. These songs make me want to take off my shoes and run barefoot in the yard. You can grab all of these at iTunes.

1. A Beautiful Day, U2 – This song was written for spring time.
2. Song of the South, Alabama – Every time I hear this one, I feel like rolling down the windows in my truck. I’m just a country boy at heart, I guess.
3. Ooh La La, Faces – If I hear this, it’s stuck in my head for days. And I love it.
4. Waitin’ On A Sunny Day, Bruce Springsteen – Just one of several stellar cuts from The Rising.
5. Centerfield, John Fogerty – C’mon, you knew this one was going to make the list.
6. Soak Up The Sun, Sheryl Crow – She singlehandedly saved me from my anti-female artist bias a few years back.
7. You Got It, Roy Orbison – Takes me back to Little League baseball practice in 1988. Great tune.
8. Good Day Sunshine, The Beatles – I put this one on the first mix tape I made for Sunny.
9. So Alive, Ryan Adams – A good one to rock to.
10. It’s Alright, Third Day – This one reminds me of spring time in Kingsport, TN, one of the most beautiful places in the world.
11. Everybody’s Gonna Be Happy, The Kinks – Really, I could’ve chosen any song from the High Fidelity soundtrack.
12. Our Love Is Loud, David Crowder Band – Rock on, keytar boiyee.
13. See the World, Gomez – A new fave of mine.
14. A Great Day to be Alive, Travis Tritt – I know, but I like country music, OK?
15. Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison – Classic.

Posted in Music, Random | 6 Comments

My Girls: For Mom

Posted on March 26, 2007 by Jason

A few months back, I did a series entitled Another Man where I delineated the 5 most influential men in my life. That series arose from a quote I read that said for a boy to grow into a man requires the influence of another man. This has certainly been true in my life.

But this is only half of the truth, at least for me. I can certainly say that I wouldn’t be who I am today (whoever that is) if not for the influence of my mother. In fact, if I were to go so far as to rank people according to their influence in my life, I’d be hard pressed to find anybody more important to the formation of my character than Myrna Armstrong Bybee.

Myrna and Jason Bybee, circa 1979

If my father taught me toughness, I learned tenderness from Mom. She was so full of warmth to me. Make no mistake: she was certainly capable of correcting me if the occasion warranted it. (Her coldest glances were reserved for the moments I would act up in church.) But she was always quick to remind me of her steadfast love for me, too. No matter how disobedient I might’ve been, she always reminded me how much she loved me. In fact, those were the last words she ever spoke to me.

My mother also taught me compassion. Many an afternoon my play-time was truncated because of her compassion. My Mom was a school teacher for over 20 years. A lot of her students lived in the housing project adjacent to our school. Occasionally, one of her students would need a ride home from school. I distinctly remember an afternoon when we had to take this little black boy home because his Mom forgot to come pick him up. Apparently the 15 minute drive out of our way was a major intrusion upon my afternoon Nintendo time. As soon as he got out of the car, I started griping and complaining. “Why did we have to take that kid home? It’s not our fault he didn’t have a ride. Why can’t his own Mom come get him?” After I finished my idiotic diatribe, my mother calmly preached a 14 word sermon to me: “Jason, we took him home because that’s what Jesus would want us to do.” I think of that moment often. I doubt my mother ever knew that was one of the formative moments of my life.

Today marks the 13th anniversary of my mother’s death. She left this world much too early and I miss her more today than I ever have. But I’m eternally thankful for her influence. God couldn’t have given me a finer mother. You didn’t simply raise a boy, Mom. Your influence continues to raise me into the man I’m becoming.

Posted in Blessings, Mom, My Girls | 6 Comments

Tonight’s Quandry

Posted on March 24, 2007 by Jason

I have the 4th pick in a 10-team, 8×8 (yikes!) mixed league tomorrow. Pujols will certainly go first. I’m guessing Santana will go 2nd. Keller (a Yankee fan) picks 3rd. Will he take ARod? If the much-maligned Yankee is there at 4, I have to grab him (although the hot corner is extremely deep). But I’m also considering Jose Reyes (if he’s there). Dude completely fills up a stat sheet at a scarce position. Then again, it’d be awfully hard to pass up Soriano, who’s going as high as #2 in some drafts. But I’m not sure I could live with myself if I took a Cub with my first pick.

My hope is that Santana somehow slips to me at #4. But even if he doesn’t, this is the kind of quandry I can handle. I’ll let you know how I did.
__________________________________

UPDATE: Draft results are posted in the comment if you’re interested. I think I did pretty well. Keller, if you’re reading this, you’re going down, man.

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

What I’m Lovin’

Posted on March 23, 2007 by Jason

Another busy week this week meant little time for blogging. But I’m back with a weekend version of What I’m Lovin’. I’ll be posting my annual baseball predictions next week, so be looking for that. In the meantime, here are some things I’m diggin’ these days:

  • Tourney time – I always love March Madness. Some have argued that this year’s tourney has been lackluster because of the lack of Cinderella stories. I beg to differ. All 4 #1’s are advancing to the Elite Eight, along with 3 #2’s and a #3. That says a lot about the spot-on accuracy of the selection committee. It also means some tasty Elite Eight and Final Four matchups. I’m doing fairly well in my brackets, but it’s just as awesome to see my wife fastidiously checking her bracket to see how she’s fared. That’s just cool. Love you, Sunny.
  • LOST – Eight weeks ago, naysayers of the hit ABC show were whining that LOST had “lost it.” And although viewership is down from the previous two seasons, this serialized puzzler is clicking on all cylinders again. After an odd couple weeks on Alcatraz, we’re back on the big island and finally getting answers to some of our questions. But in typical LOST fashion, each answer yields 10 more questions. Did Jack really make a deal with the Others? What’s going on with the “box”? What will Locke blow up next? We’re always discussing this stuff over at All Things Lost. Stop by and weigh in on the discussion.

  • Fantasy baseball – I’m in a record 5 leagues this year. For the first time ever, I’ll be participating in a head-to-head league with some guys from church. In addition to two other Yahoo leagues, I’ve joined the prestigous Monrovia league, an unheard of 8×8 mixed league format. And of course, I’ll be playing in the Cool Papa Bell League for the 13th straight year.

  • Derek Webb’s She Must And Shall Go Free – I added this to my iPod a few months back, but I’m more and more impressed with Webb’s masterful artistry. I loved last year’s Mockingbird. She Must And Shall Go Free is Webb’s plea for the church to embrace her identity as the called out. None of Webb’s material is for the faint of heart, but if you’re up for being challenged, give the former Caedmon’s Call member a spin. You’ll be glad you did. My favorite tracks: Wedding Dress and The Church.

  • My DVR – How did I ever live without this? It’s the only way to watch TV. Now I can store all my shows and watch ’em when I want. Who knew I was such a TLC junkie? (I love the redemptive elements of Flip That House. It’s all about new creation.)

  • Grad school – I’m thankful I’m only taking 6 hours of credit this semester. I’ve been able to focus more on my studies and I’ve enjoyed it a lot more. The reading has been pretty hefty for the two courses I’m taking (Systematic Theology and Romans / Galatians), but it’s been great. I’m prepping now for my term paper on the Christian relationship to government per Paul’s comments in Romans 13. I’m lovin’ it.

That’s it for now. Have a great weekend.

Posted in Baseball, Grad School, Music, Sports, Sunny, Television, What I'm Loving | 5 Comments